December 20 – After travelling nearly 25,000kms across Asia, the new Asian Cup trophy has finally landed in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, one of the four host cities of the region’s pinnacle tournament that starts early next month.
The trophy was greeted by representatives from the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), the UAE 2019 Local Organising Committee as well as long-time AFC partners, Emirates Airlines.
AFC Tournament Director Shin Man Gil said: “The trophy tour for the 17th edition of the AFC Asian Cup was truly an epic journey as this was the first time a new trophy has been commissioned in over 62 years of the tournament’s proud history.
“It was vital that we presented fans across the Continent with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to relish a rare close-up experience of the authentic and spectacular new trophy and I am pleased to note the overwhelming response from passionate supporters from all walks of life.
The arrival of the new trophy looks set to build on the momentum of the cup fever amongst football fans in the UAE as well as travelling supporters and teams, who will play across Abu Dhabi, Al Ain, Dubai and Sharjah in an attempt to claim the second oldest continental trophy.
H.E Aref Hamad Al Awani, Tournament Director of the Local Organising Committee said: “The championship trophy is a symbol of prestige for any sporting tournament and when people see the marvellous new AFC Asian Cup trophy they will feel pride and recognise that we are hosting one of the top competitions in the world of sports.”
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